by Shlomo Cesana and Israel Hayom Staff
Hat tip: Dr. Jean-Charles Bensoussan
"Obama shouldn't go seeking new adventures or pushing policies that clearly don't match Trump's positions," the president-elect's national security adviser tells Politico • Senior Trump adviser: With Trump there won't be any coercion against Israel.
President-elect Donald Trump
with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in New York, Sept. 25
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Photo credit: Kobi Gideon/GPO  |
Reports surfaced last week, before the Nov. 8
elections, that outgoing U.S. President Barack Obama could be preparing
an unpleasant surprise for Israel, most likely in the form of calling on
the United Nations Security Council to recognize a Palestinian state.
Now, with Donald Trump set to step into the
White House, his aides say Obama should not even think about taking such
steps, according to American political website Politico.
"On big, transformative issues where President
Obama and President-elect Trump are not in alignment, I don’t think
it's in keeping with the spirit of the transition ... to try to push
through agenda items that are contrary to the president-elect's
positions," a Trump national security adviser told Politico on Thursday.
"It's not going to be just counterproductive, but it will also send
mixed messages."
He added: "The machinery of government is
going to have to keep grinding as best it can. But Obama and his aides
shouldn't go seeking new adventures or pushing through policies that
clearly don't match Trump's positions."
Israel vehemently opposes any move by Obama to
secure a U.N. Security Council resolution, which it views as hostile to
Israeli interests, especially if he was to ask other world powers to
embrace U.S.-drafted parameters for a two-state solution.
One Israeli official, who asked not be
identified, told Politico that any such move would represent a "dagger
in the heart" of the peace process -- perhaps forever.
Senior Trump adviser Jason Greenblatt, seeking
to allay Israeli concerns, said: "With Trump, there won't be any
coercion for negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians. He thinks
Israel is in a tough position, needs to defend itself and won't force a
solution on Israel. Peace has to come from both sides. If Trump will
have an idea that can contribute to the sides he will contribute it, but
he doesn't intend to force a solution."
Greenblatt, who is also the executive vice
president and chief legal officer at the Trump Organization, made the
comments during an interview with Army Radio on Thursday.
He said Trump "does not define the settlements
as an obstacle to peace, and as evidence of this he will present the
situation in Gaza, where the Jewish communities were evacuated and yet
peace still wasn't forthcoming. He does not see the settlements as an
obstacle to peace."
Regarding Trump's comments that he would
transfer the U.S. Embassy, currently located in Tel Aviv, to Jerusalem,
Greenblatt said that "when Trump gives his word he stands by it. For
Israel, he recognizes the right of Jewish nation to preside in its
eternal capital of Jerusalem and is revolted by UNESCO's decision on the matter."
Asked whether Trump intends an Israel-related
role for him, such as Middle East emissary, Greenblatt answered in
Hebrew that such an appointment would be a "bracha" ["blessing"] and
added, "It's too early to tell, but I very much hope so. It would be an
honor and a privilege to serve in that capacity."
'Maximum aid for Israel'
During the election campaign, Greenblatt and
David Friedman, Trump's adviser on Israel, formulated an official
document stipulating that on the matter of the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict, the U.S. is interested in coming to an agreement, but that "a
two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians appears
impossible as long as the Palestinians are unwilling to renounce
violence against Israel or recognize Israel's right to exist as a Jewish
state.
"Additionally, the Palestinians are divided
between PA rule in the West Bank and Hamas rule in Gaza, so there is not
a united Palestinian people who could control a second state. Hamas is a
U.S.-designated terrorist organization that actively seeks Israel's
destruction. We will seek to assist the Israelis and the Palestinians in
reaching a comprehensive and lasting peace, to be freely and fairly
negotiated between those living in the region."
The document also states that "the Palestinian
leadership, including the PA, has undermined any chance for peace with
Israel by raising generations of Palestinian children on an educational
program of hatred of Israel and Jews. The larger Palestinian society is
regularly taught such hatred on Palestinian television, in the
Palestinian press, in entertainment media, and in political and
religious communications. The two major Palestinian political parties --
Hamas and Fatah -- regularly promote anti-Semitism and jihad.
"The U.S. cannot support the creation of a new
state where terrorism is financially incentivized, terrorists are
celebrated by political parties and government institutions, and the
corrupt diversion of foreign aid is rampant. The U.S. should not support
the creation of a state that forbids the presence of Christian or
Jewish citizens, or that discriminates against people on the basis of
religion."
Regarding Israel's future borders, the
document specifies that "Israel's maintenance of defensible borders that
preserve peace and promote stability in the region is a necessity.
Pressure should not be put on Israel to withdraw to borders that make
attacks and conflict more likely."
On the issue of the Jewish and Israeli
connection to Jerusalem, the document states that "the U.S. will
recognize Jerusalem as the eternal and indivisible capital of the Jewish
state and [the Trump administration] will move the U.S. Embassy to
Jerusalem."
Meanwhile, on the matter of the Memorandum of Understanding
between Israel and the U.S. on defense aid for Israel, the document
describes it is "a good first step, but there is much more to be done. A
Trump administration will ensure that Israel receives maximum military,
strategic and tactical cooperation from the United States, and the MOU
will not limit the support that we give. Further, Congress will not be
limited to give support greater than that provided by the MOU if it
chooses to do so."
The U.S., according to the document, "should
veto any United Nations votes that unfairly single out Israel and will
work in international institutions and forums, including in our
relations with the European Union, to oppose efforts to delegitimize
Israel, impose discriminatory double standards against Israel, or to
impose special labeling requirements on Israeli products or boycotts on
Israeli goods.
"The U.S. should cut off funds for the U.N.
Human Rights Council, a body dominated by countries presently run by
dictatorships that seems solely devoted to slandering the Jewish state."
Regarding the anti-Israel boycott, divestment
and sanction movement, the document declares that the U.S. should view
such efforts "as inherently anti-Semitic and take strong measures, both
diplomatic and legislative, to thwart actions that are intended to limit
commercial relations with Israel, or persons or entities doing business
in Israeli areas, in a discriminatory manner."
On relations with Iran, the document states:
"Despite the Iran nuclear deal in 2015, the U.S. State Department
recently designated Iran, yet again, as the leading state sponsor of
terrorism -- putting the Middle East particularly, but the whole world
at risk by financing, arming, and training terrorist groups operating
around the world including Hamas, Hezbollah, and forces loyal to Syrian
President Bashar al-Assad. The U.S. must counteract Iran's ongoing
violations of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action regarding Iran's
quest for nuclear weapons and their noncompliance with past and present
sanctions, as well as the agreements they signed, and implement tough,
new sanctions when needed to protect the world and Iran's neighbors from
its continuing nuclear and non-nuclear threats."
The document describes the relationship
between Israel and the U.S. as an "unbreakable bond" that is "based upon
shared values of democracy, freedom of speech, respect for minorities,
cherishing life, and the opportunity for all citizens to pursue their
dreams."
It continues: "Israel is the state of the
Jewish people, who have lived in that land for 3,500 years. The State of
Israel was founded with courage and determination by great men and
women against enormous odds and is an inspiration to people everywhere
who value freedom and human dignity.
"Israel is a staunch ally of the U.S. and a key partner
in the global war against Islamic jihadism. Military cooperation and
coordination between Israel and the U.S. must continue to grow."
Shlomo Cesana and Israel Hayom Staff
Source: http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_article.php?id=37919&hp=1
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Copyright - Original materials copyright (c) by the authors.
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